Teachers union asks MPS to bargain contracts

On the heels of a Wisconsin judge striking down key provisions of Act 10, the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association union has requested Milwaukee Public Schools engage in collective bargaining for 2012-'13 contracts for three of its units.

While teachers, the MTEA's largest bargaining unit, remain under a contract until the end of June 2013, the contracts of educational assistants, bookkeepers and accountants, and substitute teachers expired in June 2012.

The MTEA wants to bargain a one-year contract for those groups, and it wants to bargain a teacher unit contract later this fall, a time frame outlined in the current teacher contract, according to a post on the MTEA website.

While the MTEA announced its intent earlier this week, a union that represents about 100,000 employees in Milwaukee County, MPS, the City of Milwaukee and other municipalities sent letters Thursday requesting negotiations on new contracts. Reporter Steve Schultze has that story.

An MPS spokesman said they have received inquiries from union members and "plan to respond in the near future."

The MTEA website says that if a stay is granted to keep Act 10 in place during the appeal process, bargaining over everything but base wages would have to be suspended.

"However, our request to bargain at this time reflects our strong belief that collective bargaining is not only a fundamental right, but also the best way for labor and management to come to an agreement that reflects the needs of educators, students, and the community," the MTEA announcement says.

About Erin Richards

Erin Richards covers K-12 education in urban and suburban Milwaukee, as well as state politics related to education issues.